Bill, great idea. I've been waiting for some more snow to take some pictures and we got about 6 inches last night.(2.54 x 6 cm :) ) It wasn't the type that really clings to the branches like I was raving about the other night, but I think these two plants look pretty good. Picea glauca 'Pendula' (per your request)(neighbor's Pinus nigra in the background) Abies koreana 'Aurea'(neighbor's Picea pungens, Pinus strobus and Pinus nigra in the background) Dan

Yes those are some of the hypertufa I made last year. They were an easy fun project , Some never made it over the season and I should have sealed them . I did make a few stepping stones and bird bathes . Can get the instructions on the internet under "hypertufa draping pots " The draping pots are unique and seems there are never two exactly the same. Thanks for noticing and you must give it a try, It is so rewarding to see the results each time and gets rid of old sheets and towels so one is actually are recycling and saving the environment too. We use the patio quite a lot and enjoy it as often as possible

My tea olive tree just started flowering and wafting fragrance, so I moved it out of the wind prior to the cold front blast. Plus it might discourage the people who ignore my No Soliciting sign. I went to our SA Botanical Garden the second day after the snow to see how theirs were doing; they just started up this week too. (On the right is my feeble attempt at beanstalks with a sweet potato vine and bamboo poles.) Elswhere at the Botanical Garden, there were a lot less butterflies, not surprisingly. All the banana trees near the Wisteria arbor were looking a little floppy (1st pic) after being covered with heavy wet snow. Last August they got damaged by Harvey's winds and were all cut back (2nd pic). BTW Ragna I wondered about the blue filter too. It could be all the white stuff fooled the metering. Or someone changed the White Balance setting or switched to one of the fancy "Modes". Granted, taking photos in the early morning hours presents challenges, and the blue looks appropriate considering the frigid conditions. I've seen countless quality photos of yours, these seem different (color-wise only). Could be a Houzz artifact too, they don't preserve the EXIF data so I couldn't get to the bottom of it. Certainly no need to tweak or lighten these photos though. The 3rd photo (snail?) and the tall birdhouse seem the least affected. Just check it please before the Christmas party season family photos? And now I (picture the Scarecrow after asking the Wizard of Oz for brains) beat a hasty retreat, haha.

Sorry I only have time to skim...I'm in IT project management hell right now. Bill Bill Bill. What are we going to do with you? THE RULES ARE THE RULES! But, I'm going to grant you a primary peony hybrid exception!!! Because I like that one. Cab, good job, the hummers are so hard to catch with the camera!